The Clapton Hart — Restaurant in London

🚇 Clapton 🍺 £7.20 Brixton Pale Ale

The Clapton Hart is located in the heart of Clapton next to Lea bridge roundabout. The nearest station is Clapton on the Weaver Line.

This pub dates from 1722 and was originally known as The White Hart. It was re-built in the 1830s after burning down, then re-built in 1891. After a period of closure, the pub reopened in 2012 and is now run by Urban Pubs & Bars.

There is small family connection to this pub. My Dad was a Relief Manager here for four weeks back in the early 1970’s. The Guv’nor at the time was attacked and hospitalised, Clapton was a very different place back then.

The pub has been extensively refurbished last December, and the results are impressive. Its striking interior seamlessly blends traditional architecture with contemporary accents, showcasing features like a stained-glass vestibule, decorative fireplaces, elegant chandeliers, and a vaulted ceiling with an atrium illuminating the dining space. Cleverly designed intimate nooks add to the pub's character. A good-sized rear beer garden offers covered seating and a uniquely repurposed workman's bench table.

The beer line up has a good mix of well known and locally brewed beers, and included two cask ales. I decided on a Brixton Pale Ale, my pint was excellent, price point was a tad high. The food menu is pub classics, Fish & Chips costs £17.50, roasts are available on Sunday’s.

We arrived just after 12pm on overcast and warm Saturday lunchtime in April. The pub had just opened and was gearing up for the days trade. The atmosphere was chilled and relaxed with a couple of different groups plotted up in the beer garden. The service was first class, I had a brief chat with the Guv’nor and a couple of team members, all were chatty, friendly and good natured.

Been meaning to check out this pub for years, mostly because of Dad’s stories about his time here. It's a really great-looking spot that delivers a solid London pub experience all around. Honestly, couldn't find any faults – definitely worth adding to your list.

Follow @claptonhartpub for updates.

📅 18th April 2025

More London pub info on socials...

I have been going to the Clapton heart since it opened and was very happy to have another local pub in my area. I have not been in a while so went to have a substantial meal with my beer. I have had very good times here in the past and the beer and food has always been good.

My first surprise was after I ordered a five points XPA that cost £5:80, this is extortionate, in any other local pup in the area a five points XPA is £4:20.

My next surprise was when I looked at the “festive menu”, this consisted of chips and burgers, please tell me what is festive about that. Because I am vegetarian I asked what is in the “moving mountains burger”, to this question I just got the answer “vegetables”, when I asked what vegetables and what was the base for the burger they couldn’t tell me. Thy also said “we make the burgers they are very good”. I then went to google “what is a moving mountains burger”, I found out that it is a plant based food company and you can buy their products at Ocado. Because of feeling deceived by being told that they make the burgers I was not willing to pay £12 for something I can order online and cook at home.

Lastly we were sitting by a window that was open, we asked if the window could be closed because is was creating a draft. We were told that we would have to close the window because none of the staff could reach. There must e a way they could close the window or have they never closed this window in the whole time other place has been open? It was like 3 or 4 degrees outside this is why we came to the pub but we ended up sitting in jumpers inside, not cosy at all.

In short the Clapton Heart standards of service seem to have dropped substantially since I was there last, it’s over priced, the vegetarian options are a secondary thought not worth spending the money on, their staff do not seem to know what is on the very small menu and they just didn’t seem to want to be...

Reviewing my two visits to the newly refurbished pub and kitchen opened recently. First visit was an intimate lunch of 3 and the second was a large family birthday party of 24. In both cases the pub was a perfect setting for these groups.

The staff were all extremely polite, friendly and personable but always professional. All the arrangements and calls I had to make to organise the large group party and their needs were handled in a well informed, accommodating and helpful manner.

The overall atmosphere is inclusive, warm and inviting. The modern and well presented decor gives a tasteful and stylish aesthetic to the space and yet retains the imprint of an authentic local pub with in it. The large spaces are filled with unique areas that will work to give any type of visiting group or couple exactly the spaces they need (some areas are lively and buoyant and some cosy and quieter). There seems to be plenty of seats and tables to accommodate everyone comfortably on a busy day or night.

The Food menu choices are responsibly modest resulting in all the food coming out of the kitchen fresh, hot and well presented and tasty. (The triple cooked chips were fresh, hot, crunchy and delicious!).

The wine list is very good and their cocktails were excellent.

Their live DJ’s/Music seamlessly switches the vibe from the casual afternoon pub lunch setting in to a vibrant ‘Saturday-night-out’ experience over the weekend!

NOTE - there are still outdated images of the pub and old menus (from before the refurb and new management) to be found on...